Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter September 9, 2026


Narrative Psychology and Leadership Online Program

I will once again be hosting this course. Last Spring we had 22 people from six countries from diverse backgrounds including crisis/hostage negotiators. The course blends the “science of stories” along with practical applications.

For those interested and can commit to it, there are also limited scholarships available too. Let me know by emailing me. Note, the course begins September 20th.

https://www.thenarrativelab.org/online-program

 

New Jersey Hostage Negotiators Conference

Join us again this year, Nov. 9-10 at the HardRock Hotel and Casino. You still have time to get the Early Bird rate too. Also note, you can register with purchase orders too (email me).

https://njhnt2026.eventbrite.com/

 

All hostages released, suspect dead in bomb threat at Chase Bank in Bakersfield

Police said the suspect is a man, making bomb threats. Police said he apparently had a bomb strapped to his body.

Police confirmed he had barricaded himself inside the building with "several community members." Police did not confirm how many people.

Before 5 p.m., police said that, with the cooperation of the crisis negotiations team and the assistance of the FBI negotiations team, they were able to negotiate the safe surrender of one of the hostages.

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/downtown-bakersfield-police-incident-prompts-lockdown-at-city-hall-other-buildings-kern-county-california

 

Inside the hostage negotiations at the Chase Building

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — While 10 hostages were held inside the Chase Building in downtown Bakersfield, Bakersfield police negotiators were just feet away from the man accused of holding them captive.

For more than 10 hours, those negotiators worked to keep 41-year-old Anthony Scott Searles-Harris calm and ultimately help secure the safe release of every hostage inside.

https://www.turnto23.com/news/in-your-neighborhood/bakersfield/inside-the-hostage-negotiations-at-the-chase-building

 

Hope in Hostage-Taking and Kidnapping Incidents

“It was awful. We are a really close family. We had no direct contact, and it was just terrifying, because you just don't know what's happening in their lives.

And nowadays, you know, we have constant contact with our phones, and constant, constant access to each other, and so we get used to that. And so, when it's lost, it's just terrifying.”

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-words/202603/hope-in-hostage-taking-and-kidnapping-incidents

 

Read more »

Friday, January 23, 2026

Crisis Hostage Negotiator Newsletter - January 2026


Make sure to see the events at the bottom!

Police negotiator quells crisis with grad student's counseling wisdom


Ortiz began to train other officers across Arizona and the U.S. and wrote a self-published book, “Bringing Hope: One Police Officer’s Journey with Empathy in the Face of Service,” a fictionalized account of snippets from his own experiences.
READ MORE

Yale study finds veterans’ suicide risk tracks with social factors

“These findings underscore the importance of expanding suicide prevention efforts beyond crisis response and psychiatric treatment alone. Specifically, they point to the need for routine screening of social determinants of health, early identification of compounding social stressors, and integrated interventions that address housing stability, healthcare access, financial strain, and social connectedness alongside mental health care,” Pietrzak wrote.

How holographic negotiation can transform crisis response in policing


READ MORE

Golden Gate Bridge deaths by suicide down 87% after installation of prevention nets, report says

KCPD Crisis Negotiation Team Finishes First In The Missouri Association of Crisis Negotiators Annual Challenge

READ MORE

Hong Kong Police Negotiation Cadre Celebrates 50 Years with Symposium on Crisis Management and Future Innovations

Mr Chow added that with over 100 members, the PNC has consistently upheld the motto “Who Cares Wins” and has successfully resolved crises and saved lives through calm analysis, active listening, and strong teamwork. 

The thin line between saving a company and funding a crime

Ransomware negotiators dish on being in a ‘moral gray zone,’ unrestricted by accountability or industry wide rules of engagement.

“There’s no structured community of practice, no peer review, and no recognized body to certify or hold negotiators accountable,” Jon DiMaggio, principal at XFIL Cyber, told CyberScoop. “It’s one of the few areas of cybersecurity with no real standards, an unregulated tradecraft that still operates like the Wild West.”

I was a hostage negotiator for 10 years - this is what it taught me about parenting

Nicky Perfect spent over 30 years as a Metropolitan Police officer, including 10 years as an international hostage and crisis negotiator, in the elite New Scotland Yard Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit. 
Here are the three techniques from her high-pressure career which will help you stay calm and in control as a parent, she told the BBC's Parenting Download podcast...

NJ Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Designating U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day

READ MORE

Video shows gunman firing on Stamford, Conn., police during deadly standoff

Gunman was wearing shirt with Nazi insignia, state marshal says...
READ MORE

When every word matters: A look inside training with the BC RCMP’s Crisis Negotiation Team

“For people in these high-risk situations, it can be overwhelming to see things like the big armored trucks, the lights and the sirens, and what can feel like chaos...."

Supreme Court backs Montana police who entered a home without warrant for emergency

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with county police in Montana who entered the home of a man without a warrant because they feared he might be suicidal, rejecting an argument that the officers needed probable cause.

TRAININGS, CONFERENCES, & MORE


Australia Hostage Negotiation Debrief
Online Webinar
March, 2026
More information to follow next month

45th Annual Hostage Negotiation Seminar
Hosted by Baltimore County Police & Baltimore Field Office of the FBI

Narrative Psychology & Leadership (online)
Professional Certificate Program in partnership with Lipscomb University, College of Leadership and Public Service
Enhance your negotiator skills with other first responders, military, corrections, and medical/mental health professionals from across five different countries. limited spots available. 
Starts March 26.

5-Day Basic HNT Course
April 13-17
Atlantic City
Limited, discounted registration available, preference given first to NJ residents.
Email me for more information.
Certification through NYAHN, in partnership with AFSP-NJ.

New York Association of Hostage Negotiators Annual Conference
May 20-22, Buffalo, NY. 

NTOA Crisis Negotiations Conference
October 26-29
Chandler, AZ

New Jersey Crisis/Hostage Negotiator Conference
November 9-10, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, NJ

Have an event? Let me know by emailing me. I'd like to be able to promote each of the association's conferences, I just need the info!

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Crisis Hostage Negotiator Newsletter [July 2025]

 Hello all,


It's a been a while since I sent out a newsletter so I hope everyone has been well. Below are some articles and events coming up. Hope to see you in person.

Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology 
This exploratory paper examines how the practical application of narrative medicine (NM) has the capability to support police hostage/crisis negotiators. Narrative medicine ensures that the humanity and dignity of...


A team of instructors from the NY Association of Hostage Negotiators will provide a weeklong training to seasoned crisis negotiators in Canada. This training will focus on a kidnapping negotiation process called the "Red Centre Training Program". 
Location: Toronto, Canada
Limited to only certified police officers/constables


This one-day workshop for professionals advances the notion that “stories are science” and that understanding their impact is critical to being successful in life—especially in conflict and dispute situations that range from daily interactions to crises and everything in between. Critical to all of this is maintaining the humanity and dignity of everyone involved.
Location: Nashville, TN
Open to anyone
See the first article above to see how this relates to HNT


I think you always have to be optimistic in these cases. You have to want to get to that end, and, hopefully, that informs the negotiation... 
First off, let me gently push back on your assertion. I'd say the data does not back up that some of the deals that we have had to make to bring Americans home is actually increasing the amount of people that nation-states are taking hostage.


From tense standoffs to lifesaving resolutions, Elizabeth Prillinger brings nearly two decades of law enforcement experience to her role as a hostage negotiator in one of America’s busiest cities...
Additionally, individuals in crisis don’t always respond predictably. Despite training and best efforts, they may refuse to engage or de-escalate. Sometimes, when a violent crime has not been committed, a disengagement strategy can help de-escalate the situation so officers can re-engage the subject more effectively, and possibly more safely, at a later time.


... Lack of professional negotiation and ransom insurance. It appears that the initial response to the kidnapping lacked the involvement of a professional negotiation team and the support of kidnap and ransom insurance. This resulted in a chaotic and disorganized approach to negotiations, allowing the kidnappers to dictate the terms and escalate their demands.


"We try to gather as much intelligence as we can on the individual. It's talking to family members, talking to friends and significant others," Sgt. Turner said. "And one of the best questions we can ask them is, 'Hey, what can we say to this personal to get them to resolve this peacefully?'"


New Jersey Hostage Negotiators Conference
More information will be provided in the next newsletter, for now, we are looking at a date in November. 


2 Wisconsin police crisis negotiators explain what their jobs are like and why everyone could benefit from crisis negotiation tactics
“Most of us listen to respond. We have a response that we’ve already come up with in our mind that we want to get out, and we’re just waiting for that break in that conversation so you can get your piece out, instead of just waiting, listening to what they have to say, and then giving yourself some time to formulate a response after they’re done,” Tatro said.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [November 2023]

1. Hostage freed after hours-long standoff at Las Vegas Strip resort room

A man was arrested and a woman described as his hostage was released unharmed Tuesday after an hours-long standoff in a room at the Caesars Palace resort on the Las Vegas Strip, police said.
No injuries were reported and police did not immediately say if the hostage-taker had been armed in a high-rise tower of the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard property. Furniture, cushions and other objects fell from a 21st floor window, frightening guests in a swimming pool area below.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/man-takes-woman-hostage-in-hotel-room-at-caesars-casino-las-vegas-police-say-5/
Video: https://www.fox5vegas.com/video/2023/07/11/police-swat-involved-standoff-with-man-holding-woman-hostage-las-vegas-hotel-room/


2. Push to Free Israeli Hostages in Gaza Hindered by Mistrust, Anger, Confusion

Hopes of a breakthrough have repeatedly faded, leaving the fate of more than 200 prisoners uncertain
[paywall] read more: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/mistrust-anger-and-confusion-hinder-talks-to-free-israeli-hostages-held-in-gaza-22ee5fcf

3. Israel and Hamas Nearly Struck a Deal to Free Up to 50 Hostages

...So far, the negotiations have only focused on releasing civilian hostages, according to these officials. The Israeli soldiers held in Gaza may eventually be part of a separate track of negotiations, possibly to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian women and minors who are held without charge in Israeli prisons.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-hostages.html

4. Israel sees 'sign of life' in Gaza hostage videoNote: this is interesting and explains why hostage videos are not shown:

The BBC will not be broadcasting the clip itself, which is more than three minutes long. Prisoners of war and hostages are protected under international humanitarian law, and the BBC does not broadcast material which may have been filmed under duress.

5. 'We will kill you': I was held hostage in a war zone. Years later, the trauma remains.

After the Hamas attack last month, I knew that I could not bear to see the videos or images of civilian victims of the fighting in Israel and Gaza.I know firsthand what it is like to be taken hostage. 
... I am a nurse, and in July 2018, six of my colleagues and I were taken captive for four days by a rebel group in Cameroon. Our team was trying to offer primary care to civilians in the central African country, where a separatist war was erupting.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2023/11/08/israel-hamas-war-israeli-hostages-trauma/71474185007/

Do you know about Hostage US?

Hostage US is a 501c3 organization that ensures American hostages, wrongful detainees and their families get the support and guidance they need to survive the challenge of a kidnapping. 
We provide support free of charge and on a fully confidential basis. We are independent of any private interests so we can serve the needs of hostages and their families. We are family first – family last.
Read more: https://hostageus.org/about/

Did you know the NYAHN offers KfR (Kidnap for Ransom) Training?



6. Cops open fire on hostage-taking kidnappers after 4-hour standoff in victim’s semi-truck: video

A multi-county police chase turned into a 4-hour hostage standoff in the middle of an Ohio highway before cops opened fire on the two suspects, who later died Wednesday morning.

Harrowing footage showed several Ohio Highway Patrol Troopers in tactical gear approach the hijacked semi-truck in an attempt to free the driver, who was believed to have been held hostage inside by a 54-year-old man and his 51-year-old wife.

Read more: https://nypost.com/2023/08/03/ohio-cops-open-fire-on-hostage-taking-kidnappers-after-4-hour-standoff-in-victims-semi-truck/

7. Man arrested at Hamburg Airport (Germany) after nearly 18-hour hostage standoff

BERLIN (AP) — The hostage situation at Hamburg Airport ended Sunday afternoon, around 18 hours after a man drove his vehicle through the gates of the airport with his 4-year-old daughter inside, authorities said. The man was arrested and the girl appears to be unharmed.

Read more:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/man-arrested-at-hamburg-airport-after-nearly-18-hour-hostage-standoff

8. Nebraska police standoff ends with arrest and safe hostage release

Nebraska police on Wednesday arrested a 37-year-old man after a nearly 30-hour standoff and the release of three hostages, including two children...
The man backed out of plans to release the woman multiple times during negotiations with an FBI hostage rescue team and other law enforcement officials, Overman said. The man shot about seven rounds at law enforcement during the standoff.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hostage-standoff-nebraska-police-2121f657c6bd985f492af068020b9fe1

9. Manhunt for Ohio murder suspect ends with hostage situation and deadly standoff at gas station in West Virginia

A man suspected of a killing in Ohio and multiple carjackings in Kentucky was killed by West Virginia police in a standoff outside a gas station where he was holding three hostages...
Kenova Police Chief Bob Sullivan told CBS affiliate WOWK-TV that a hostage negotiator with the West Virginia State Police Special Response Team talked with Maynard for an hour and a half.

EVENTS

(Green = I'm speaking at it)
NTOA - Nov. 13-16
https://www.ntoa.org/conferences/cnt-conference/

NECNA Regional Training (members only)
ADVANCED CRISIS NEGOTIATOR COURSE: Suicide, Depression & Anxiety - Understanding the Research to Save Lives
December 5 - CT
December 6 - MA
https://www.necna.com/

7th Annual NYPD & NYAHN Training Seminar

Crisis Negotiators - Oklahoma
April 10, 2024

38th Annual Training Seminar & HNT Competition
April 28, 2024 to May 1, 2024
Boise Convention Centre & The Grove Hotel
Boise, Idaho

16th Annual NYAHN Conference - Rochester NY

2024 ICNA CONFERENCE
Sept. 23-27, 2024
EMBASSY SUITES, EAST PEORIA

Hostages, SWAT officer, suspect dead in Austin, TX, after maniac traps victims

 A deranged man barricaded in a house in Austin, Texas with two hostages opened fire on police officers and killed a member of a SWAT team.

The violence unfolded in South Austin around 4 a.m. when Austin Police SWAT officers forced entry into the home where the maniac was allegedly armed with a knife and gun and had trapped hostages, Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson announced at a press conference on Saturday morning.

Read more: https://nypost.com/2023/11/11/news/four-dead-in-austin-texas-hostage-situation/ 

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [March, 2023]

 10 years of the (free) Crisis Negotiator Skills Sheet

It's been 10 years since I created the above skills sheet. Just a reminder, it's 100% free for you to use with your police negotiation teams. If you want the PDF, just email me. 

Amazon delivery driver goes viral for dropping off package during a police standoff in North Carolina

The video, posted on March 18, the Amazon worker is seen toting a small box up to the driveway where the apparent standoff is taking place, taking officers by surprise. As soon as they see him, they tell him to stop...

The True Story Behind ‘Waco: American Apocalypse’

Nearly 30 years later, we remain fascinated by the events at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas


S'pore police negotiator once spent 21 hours convincing man not to jump off 7-story high crane








“People cope with difficulties in life in different ways, so we don’t try to downplay what people are going through," Bala explained.

“The feeling of being able to save a life at the end of it is actually very rewarding. That’s why our negotiators keep doing this year after year.”
Read more HERE

Papua New Guinea hostage taking a ‘spur of the moment decision’

The decision to take the Australian-based New Zealand archaeologist Prof Bryce Barker and his research team hostage near remote Mount Bosavi in Papua New Guinea was a “spur of the moment” decision by their captors, two of whom had been shot in an earlier encounter with security guards at a logging site.

4 Keys to Responding to a Child Expressing Thoughts of Suicide

Tips that can help both in your work and personal lives
Here are some thoughts to ground you in those first critical moments when your child makes a declaration or when you become aware that they are struggling with suicidal ideation. These thoughts should help you respond in the most supportive way...

Niger Credited With Negotiating Release of US Aid Worker, French Journalist

Kidnappings in the Sahel are growing at an alarming rate. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger saw a combined 532 abductions in 2022, up from to 33 in 2017, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Some 115 abduction incidents have already been recorded in the region this year.
Read more HERE

Sharpen Those Skills

I'm not sure if you've heard of the "13 Behaviors of High-Trust Leaders" but if you'd like, have a look and reflect on how each, when practiced, can make you both a better negotiator and member of your team.

Click here


LinkedIn

Research

Trainings, workshops, conferences, and more (April - June)

Trainings I'm involved in:

Other trainings

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Crisis Hostage Negotiator Newsletter - January 2023

 Happy new year everyone. I hope the new year is off to a great start for each of you. Make sure to have a look at each story below, I think they are all worth it. One of the best ways to stay sharp is reading!

Last month we held our 3rd annual Resilience Symposium where for the latest version, we had space experts from NASA and other organizations share about their great work and resilience. A bunch of video snippets and full sessions have already been uploaded. Take just over one minute to watch this one - I think it will resonate with many of you. 



Police Resilience Training (Free!)
Due to some partnerships and grants, I have some opportunities to provide free (yes free!) resilience training for police personnel. These workshops have already been given to police personnel across the country (and world) with some really great feedback and published research on it.

At the moment, there are opportunities for agencies in the following locations only:
  • Long Island (NY)
  • New Hampshire
  • Connecticut 
  • Maine
  • Maryland
Last thing I will say is if you know me, this type of training is not "check box training" - it's designed by police for police. These training and workshops have also be given specifically to negotiator teams including those recently in the FBI - NJ and Toronto.

If your agency is interested (this is not for individuals to sign up), send me an email, or a message on LinkedIn. 

42nd Annual Hostage Negotiation Seminar
Once again one of the top negotiator events of the year is coming up. Make sure to mark your calendar. Have a look at the image, so really interesting presentations. 

Crisis Negotiator Skills: The Experts Weigh In

(From the article) 90% either always or usually debrief after an incident. This highlights the importance of reflecting afterwards on what worked and did not work in order to improve effectiveness for the next incident. Experts in crisis incidents do not “wing it.” Rather, they know what works, how it works, and analyze incidents afterwards in order to continue doing what is effective and know what is not effective so they can try to avoid it next time.

Read the article at Psychology Today here.


‘You’re pathetic.’ Texas police negotiator insults man on ledge, stirring anger online


Mississippi police kill woman holding hostage inside Walmart store and demanding to speak to a news anchor
A video posted to social media showed a woman holding a gun in one hand and using the other hand to hold onto a person wearing a Walmart employee vest. The woman with the gun yelled that she needed help and wanted to talk to a news anchor.


Ransomware Attacks: Tips And Tricks For Getting A Favorable Deal
3. Be Honest
Trust me when I say people can see through falsehoods, sooner or later. If you’re trying to buy time or mislead the attacker, it can cause them to cut off communications, and that’s the last thing you want. So, be honest and tell them that you need time to arrange the money. Or, you can even tell them that their demands are beyond your capacity. This sort of blunt honesty might bring you closer to finalizing a deal.


(Movie Review) 'The Point Men' recounts S. Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan
"The Point Men" sheds light on the 2007 South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan by focusing on the desperate rescue efforts, walking the fine line between what happened on stage and behind the scenes.
...In July 2007, 23 South Korean missionaries are taken hostage by the Taliban, and a South Korean negotiation team is dispatched to Afghanistan.


Northeastern professor’s new book trains crisis negotiators for life-or-death calls
“From these maps,” Kevoe-Feldman says, “we can identify specific patterns and communication practices that work well, and we can pinpoint points of miscommunication.”


Did you know? Hostage negotiators sharpen their skills in San Marcos
The training this week at Texas State University this year attracted almost 30 hostage negotiation teams from across the U.S. and from as far away as Singapore.
Read more from CBS Austin.


Kidnapping for ransom: the new normal
...The abductor directed her to bring the money to Adama without stating where. As soon as they have the money, her brother will be released, the abductor said.
The conversation went on. “I’ve never seen that much money. How am I going to get you this right now?” she asked. The kidnapper immediately lost interest in continuing the conversation. She insisted on engaging in bargaining, giving her a little bit more time to speak.
Read more from The Reporter here


The Art of Hostage Negotiations—When You’re the Hostage

Naked man held grocery store clerk hostage at gunpoint, court documents say

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [Oct. 18, 2022]

Hello everyone,

If you read one article, make it this first one below. Just a quick disclaimer as it can be triggering for some as it talks about the horrors of policing, and specific examples this Aussie negotiator went through. Ultimately, know that his story is one of hope. 

And, let it serve as a reminder, we are humans doing incredible work but we are human nonetheless. It's ok to reach out for help because after all, that is what real strength is and each of you have it in you. 

Before moving on, one quick announcement. I am happy to officially announce for the 3rd straight year, the resilience symposium will be back. This year's theme is:

2022 Resilience Symposium: In Awe of Space

In this year's 2-day virtual event you will learn about the awe-inspiring work of current and former NASA employees as well as other space experts. Last year we had over 1,000 attendees from +30 countries. This year it will once again be free to attend. 





The hostage negotiator on life, death and redemption

Many of us think of the hard edge of policing as an urban problem and that the work of country cops is a little more gentle. The truth is, in the city there are specialists. In the bush, you just have to find the answers yourself.
...“I had a career that was surrounded by death and more death.”


[Ransomware negotiation]
Ransomware Negotiation Evolves, as Victims Hope for Discounts
Last month, a ransomware negotiator working for a European manufacturing company received an unexpected chat message from the intruders who’d hacked his client.

The negotiator, who spoke to Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the incident, is among a growing field of security pros who help companies that are victims of ransomware attacks haggle with the hackers, trying to convince them to reduce their demands.
...Richardson, who works on behalf of the families of American hostages and detainees, has twice traveled to Moscow to help free the WNBA superstar and ex-US Marine — both of whom have been wrongfully detained by Russia for extended periods of time.


[How is your team training for school incidents?]
Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiations Team Recently Trained on School SafetyCrisis negotiators trained for school safety situations during recent exercises at Rockvale High School, said Lt. Derek Oeser of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiations Team.


[Using third-party intermediaries] 
Local attorney helps Dearborn police negotiate with active shooter
DEARBORN, Mich. (WXYZ) — When Gabi Silver’s phone rang Thursday, she had no idea she’d be spending more than four hours helping negotiate with a barricaded gunman at a Dearborn hotel.

“At some point are you thinking I can’t believe this is happening? Repeatedly I thought it,” said Gabi Silver, attorney who negotiated with shooter.


[Negotiating with a cop in crisis]
Retired Seattle cop arrested after five-hour standoff in Mount Vernon, Wash.


[How's your equipment doing!?]
SPD looking to buy new Hostage Negotiation Team vehicle to replace one damaged by mice, water


[Kidnap Negotiation/Terrorism]
The Vatican’s fraud and corruption trial took a dramatic twist Wednesday when a once-powerful cardinal challenged the Vatican’s police commissioner on the stand about one of the more peculiar tangents of the case: the Vatican’s half-million euro payments to a self-styled security analyst who, with Pope Francis’ blessing, helped arrange negotiations for the release of a nun held hostage by Islamic militants.


[International Negotiation]
Taliban release American Mark Frerichs in prisoner swap
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is ready to solve problems by negotiation with all, including the United States," Muttaqi said, per Reuters.

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [07.07.22]


Increasing Crisis Hostage Negotiator Effectiveness: Embracing Awe and Other Resilience Practices 

This exploratory Article examines the skills that make law enforcement negotiators effective and proposes how experiencing awe and a variety of other resilience practices can potentially enhance their abilities. 

Read more HERE, share your thoughts on the LinkedIn post HERE. 


Police officers pose as TV news crew to end hostage situation

The suspect agreed to release his hostage on one condition: a news crew would broadcast his complaints.
Read more HERE. 


‘The birthplace of hostage negotiation’: inside a groundbreaking 1973 standoff


In compelling new film Hold Your Fire, a siege that pitted black robbers against white US police led to an unlikely outcome.

... “[Those movies] tend to tell a false story about heroism and manhood that is enormously destructive to American males,” says Forbes on a separate Zoom call from a friend’s apartment in New York. “We always valorize the macho soldier or the Navy Seal. Making this film, I wanted to valorize the 99lb Jewish intellectual with a big shelf of books.”

Forbes, speaking with a calming, mellow and thoughtful drawl, is describing the late Dr Harvey Schlossberg, the godfather of hostage negotiators who died just last year after filming interviews for Hold Your Fire.
Read more and watch the trailer HERE.


Columbus PD’s Hostage Crisis Negotiation Team sees high success rate over the last decade
“One thing you got to have is dedicated people, and we do. I’m just fortunate that we have good people on this team, and it doesn’t come down to me. It’s a team effort, and it doesn’t matter if I’m doing the negotiating or somebody else on the team; when we get this person to come out, it’s a win for all of us. So, it’s not it’s not me. It’s the team that should take the credit for it,” Lt. McCarty shares.
Read more HERE. 


Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis Review: 54 Hours Of Horror, Straight Out Of A Movie
Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis is a true-crime documentary released on Netflix on 8 June 2022. The hostage crisis actually happened in 1988, in West Germany and the documentary is entirely made from real footage from media and CCTV cameras. It is directed by Volker Heise and shows how two criminals rob a bank, take two hostages and embark on an odyssey across Germany.
Read more HERE.


Crisis negotiation – what I learned from my first deployment
Sergeant Ben Hanson, South Yorkshire Police (United Kingdom)

An acute crisis incident occurred in which the subject, a young woman, was sitting on the edge of the top floor of a 19-storey car park.

I joined a colleague (Negotiator 1), who had been with me on my national course. This was our first full-on crisis deployment and, as I arrived, I had a good idea of how he might be feeling.

Looking up at the car park, I could see how high it was. I’m not great with heights. I could feel the fear rising as the adrenaline coursed through me, but I just had to suck it up and get on with it.

Once I got to the top, my training kicked in. I knew the risk was extremely high, as the subject was regularly moving, as if to jump. Her welfare was of paramount importance, and so we intervened regularly to distract her from jumping.
Read more HERE.


Multi-agency crisis negotiation course begins at training center in Oriskany (NY)
Crisis negotiators from police agencies across the state gathered at the New York State Preparedness Center in Oriskany on Wednesday for the start of the first-ever advanced crisis negotiation course.

The course trains negotiators on best practices to deescalate tense situations through the use of real-world scenarios, like someone acting manic or threatening suicide while armed.

"We are all very fortunate to have the State Preparedness Center up here, it is top notch, it is right in our backyard and you got instructors from all over the state," said Sgt. Benny Perra of the Utica Police Department. "It is just a wealth of knowledge up here and we are just looking to advance our skills as crisis negotiators."
Read more HERE.


IS terrorists who kidnapped James Foley ignored efforts to negotiate, court hears
The Islamic State terrorists who kidnapped American journalist James Foley never made serious attempts to negotiate a ransom before brutally executing him, family members have told a court.
Read more HERE.


Journalists will be safer if US changes tack on kidnapping
The American no-concessions approach could be justified if it made Americans safer, as President Obama argued. But there is little evidence that this is the case. Numerous studies have concluded that kidnapping is largely a crime of opportunity—terrorist groups generally nab foreign hostages without checking passports.

Brian Jenkins, a former US Green Beret and current Rand Corporation analyst—and one of the nation’s leading experts on hostage policy—put it this way: “The most powerful determinant of whether or not there will be further kidnappings is not the policy of the government, but the fate of kidnappers or their organization. If kidnappers are apprehended and appropriately punished…then kidnapping will decline. If this is not done, then it does not make any difference what the policy is.”
Read more HERE.

Summer Reading
On your next trip to the beach, grab some reading material:

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [May 4, 2022]


Manhunts: A Role for Crisis Negotiators

Over the last 20 years, the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) has been involved in several significant, internationally known manhunt investigations, including those targeting the Washington, D.C., snipers and the Boston Marathon bombers. With today’s cell phones and social media, crisis negotiators have enhanced the goals of law enforcement in manhunts.

This article addresses several methods negotiators can use to increase the likelihood of apprehending subjects and reduce the risk to law enforcement. Additionally, the authors offer case examples to illustrate lessons learned and best practices...

I highly recommend you read this full article from the FBI Bulletin here



What Trevor Reed Reveals about Joe Biden’s Cautious Approach to Releasing American Hostages
President Joe Biden waited until former Marine Trevor Reed was out of Moscow, had been successfully exchanged for a Russian prisoner in Turkey, and was safely on a plane bound for the U.S. before calling Reed’s family.
Reed had spent nearly 3 years in a Russian jail after being arrested in 2019 on charges of assaulting police in Moscow....
Reed’s release comes at a time when experts involved in helping negotiate the release of Americans detained overseas are seeing an uptick in Americans being arrested and held as bargaining chips, including in Venezuela, Iran, China. Venezuela recently released some Americans, after a visit from a high-level U.S. delegation, and holds several others.
Read more from Time.com here


In Nigeria, A Hostage Negotiator's Big Test: Freeing His Wife
... Using only his iPhone, Mr. Tumburkai has become part of an informal world of volunteer negotiators - representing families, communities, and themselves - working to bring hostages back home. 


Meet the Fortune Teller-Approved Negotiation Tactic Used by Execs at Samsung, McDonald's, and More
By using a psychological technique called the Forer effect (named after psychologist Bertram Forer), which often involves making flattering but general statements about the person you're trying to influence, you can quickly develop a rapport with people--and you can get them to open up. It's a trick that Washington, D.C., publicist Adele Cehrs and New York City-based former FBI crisis hostage negotiator Chip Massey commonly teach clients through their consulting firm, Convincing Company.
Catchy title right? Some good tips and reminders, have a look here. 


U.S. reclassifies WNBA star Brittney Griner as 'wrongfully detained' by Russia
A source close to Griner also confirmed Monday that former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who has worked privately for years as an international hostage negotiator, agreed to work on Griner's case last week. Experts have said Richardson's involvement would be a crucial sign that her case has moved into a new realm.
Until now, Griner's personal team had followed State Department advice to keep a low profile so as not to make her a more valuable asset to Vladimir Putin's government.
Defusing dangerous situations: How Tucson PD's Hostage Negotiators answer crisis calls
“We really have to meet people with a sense of human-ness,” she explained. “We’re not really there trying to be like ‘Who, what, when, why and where?’ That traditional cop.”
The team receives about 30 calls a year...
Read more and watch the video at Kgun9.com here


Research: Current trends in hostage/crisis negotiation nomenclature and training
The survey obtained responses from 46 states that included municipal, county and state agencies, ranging in size from less than 25 officers to over 2,500. Negotiation teams represented in the survey ranged from having over 50 negotiators to areas where it was necessary to band together and create regional teams...

In addition to the previous eligibility requirements, over 43% of respondents stated that their teams allowed specific non-sworn members to join their negotiation teams, with psychologists (30%) and dispatchers (12%) forming the largest groups.


11 Hours of Fear, Negotiation and Finally, Relief
The F.B.I. identified Malik Faisal Akram, a British national, as the man who took hostages in a Texas synagogue on Saturday. He was killed during the rescue operation

“The negotiation team had a high frequency and duration of contact with him,” Mr. DeSarno said. There were times when the communication ceased, he said. The “relationship” between Mr. Akram and the negotiators, according to Mr. DeSarno, “ebbed and flowed a little bit” and sometimes “got intense.”
Read more from the NYTimes.com here


Events:

Buffalo, NY May 24-27

Scottsdale, AZ Nov 14-17


Full list of events HERE


Sunday, December 26, 2021

Conferences & Events Page Updated


The events and conferences page has been updated for 2022.

Check it out HERE. 

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [December 26, 2021]


UN lockdown: NYPD take man with gun into custody following hours-long negotiations

The man who held a loaded shotgun below his chin outside the United Nations headquarters Thursday as NYPD officers negotiated with him for hours until he finally surrendered wanted papers and other documents delivered to the intergovernmental organization, police executives said at a press conference.
[More]

What is a Good Question?

Check out this snippet from the world of "narrative medicine." I've found the best way to keep myself sharp with my crisis communication skills is by exploring how the skills are used outside my direct profession. Note the caption below (and I suggest you read the whole article) on being curious leads to being genuine and not just asking the "right questions" but asking them the "right" way:

Patients often report that it wasn’t the questioning that helped most in a conversation (at least so far as they can remember) but the overall stance of curiosity in their interviewer. Indeed, we have often seen clunky questions do the trick so long as the interviewer was genuinely engaged and curious. ‘Text book’ questioning can achieve nothing at all if delivered in a way that seems rehearsed or inauthentic.


I'm a SPF crisis negotiator. This is what it's like handling suicide interventions & prolonged stand-offs.

Superintendent McIntyre Rosie Ann, who has been with the Crisis Negotiation Unit since 2012, offers her perspective on these life-threatening situations.
...Sometimes, they may say things in a certain manner but they mean something else. There’s an underlying meaning. So we have to pay attention to all the small details to really understand what’s the underlying problem they are facing.
[More]

Abducted Haiti missionaries describe daring escape

Twelve missionaries who were abducted in Haiti managed to get away on their own, their organisation has said.
The group escaped their captors at night and used the stars for navigation to trek through dense bush for hours, a spokesman said.
...The gang that seized them had demanded a ransom of $1m (£740,000) per hostage. It is not clear if any money was paid.
...At the time of their release, police spokesman Gary Desrosiers told AFP news agency there had been weeks of negotiations between the gang, known as 400 Mazowo, and authorities.

Moonshine stills and a marijuana grow found after Wednesday’s Harrah standoff, negotiator describes sequence of events

“I don’t know if he’s a good guy, bad guy or any other guy, he’s a person in crisis and he needs some help and we’re all human beings,” said Davenport, a 10-year veteran negotiator with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office.
[More]


Awe & Wonder

Research has shown that experiencing awe can have numerous benefits, including emotional control, improved focus, better decision-making, humbleness, and curiosity (hmm there's that word again!). Aren't all of those what contribute to being a good negotiator? Who would have ever thought awe moments could lead to that. 

Here is a short awe exercise video that I have used in police trainings (including homicide investigators). It starts with a one-minute breathing exercise [HERE].  

After trying this out, send me an email and let me know what you think.

Negotiators Getting Promoted

Keechant Sewell to Become First Woman to Lead N.Y.P.D
In 23 years with the Nassau Police Department, Chief Sewell, who grew up in Queens, worked in the narcotics and major cases units, and as a hostage negotiator. She was promoted to chief of detectives in September 2020.

Deputy police chief selected in South Portland
Kevin Gerrish joined the department 20 years ago and has commanded the Southern Maine Regional Crisis Negotiator Team.

Meet Charles Roca, Allentown’s first Latino police chief
From there, Roca quickly built a body of experience on the vice unit, as a certified K9 handler and as a member of the crisis negotiation team.

Does the US pay ransom for kidnapped Americans?

Officially, when it comes to Americans kidnapped overseas and held for ransom, the U.S. government has a “no ransom” policy. However, as Aaron Nolan showed in a Friday morning Smart Board segment, there are “asterisks” at play in that policy.
[More]


Concord police tout Crisis Negotiation Team

"No matter what my title is, it doesn't matter. No matter what I'm wearing, it doesn't matter. It's just Shasta talking to them,'" she said. "I want to know what they care about, and I really want to know why they're in that situation. Why have they barricaded themselves? Why are they on top of this bridge?"

Deputies Take Different Approach To Law Enforcement Through New Program“

Almost everything we have to do is negative,” Warrell said. “There’s only a handful of things people want to see us for, so we’re inclined to see someone in crisis.”
[More]
 

Up-coming events of interest:


Atlanta, GA March 15-17

Nashville, TN Jan 31 - Feb 1

Buffalo, NY May 24-27
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